Swivel ball antenna support



1951 T. R. FINKE ET AL 2,536,733

SWIVEL BALL ANTENNA SUPPORT Original Filed May 14, 1947 H 7' Tam/r yaPatented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE and Lew s l-E.

Finnebnrgh.

r. Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to The Gabriel Company, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Orig nal application May 14. 1947, SerialNo. 748,048., now Patent No. 2,470.693, dated May 1949. Serial No.87,682

1 3 Claims.

This invention pertains to radio antennae for automotive vehicles andthe like and, more particularly, to a radio antenna and supporting basehaving an angularly adjustable connection therebetween.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 748,048, filedMay 14. 1947, now Patent No. 2,470,693, issued May 17, 1949.

An object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved radioantenna support adapted to be mounted at desired positions on the bodyof an automotive vehicle or the like and allow angular adjustment ortilting of the radio antenna relative thereto, which is attractive inappearance, has a minimum number of parts or members, may bemanufactured in a minimum physical size, is self-centering in a mountingopening of the vehicle body, is easily and quickly assembled, and afterassembly may be tightened to any desired adjusted angular or tiltedposition by access to only one side of the mounting, and when oncetightened will remain adjusted, shakeproof, and rattleproof under eventhe most severe operating conditions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedantenna support having members adapted to be positioned on each side ofthe panel of an automotive vehicle or the like for forming a relativelyfixed base and a member connected to the antenna extending through thebase angularly adjustable relative thereto. the member extending throughthe base having means for both clamping the base forming members againstthe body panel and fixing its position at any desired angular positionrelative thereto whereby the antenna support may be comprised of aminimum number of individual parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedantenna support having inner and outer members adapted to be positionedon the inner and outer sides respectively of the panel of an automotivevehicle or the like for forming a relatively fixed base and an assemblyconnected to the antenna and extending through the base, the assemblyhaving threaded means each end for engaging with the inner and outerbase forming members, which threaded both fix the angular position ofthe assembly relative to the base and clamp the base forming membersthreaded means at the outer end of the assembly being tightened downlast whereby the final assembly operation and angular position of theantenna may be effected from one side of the vehicle panel only.

into relatively fixed position, the- Divided and this application April11,

The invention resides n certain constructions and combinations andarrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment described withreference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of an antenna and support embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded elevational View showing in greater detail some ofthe members in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the antenna in an adjustedangular position relative to the support.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in a radioantenna A of the so-called whip type mounted at its lower end on asupporting base B, in turn mounted or suitably positioned on the slopingpanel C of an automotive vehicle body or the like.

The panel C shown may be any portion of an automotive vehicle body orthe like, whether sloping, vertical, or horizontal. or at the front orrear thereof, and is preferably perforated or drilled to provide asuitable opening it for passage of a lead-in connection from the antennaA on the exterior of the panel to the interior thereof, as well as apassage for clamping means to fasten the base B onto the panel.

As shown, the case B is generally ball or spherical shaped and comprisesa pair of half ball members, an inner or lower half ball memher I! andan outer or upper half ball member l2, positioned in alignedrelationship on opposite sides of the body panel C concentric with theopening Ill. As shown, the inner or lower half ball member I I has amain generally hemispherical outer surface 13, and a chordal surfacecomprising an upwardly extending boss I4 and an inwardly or downwardlyextending recess l5. Similarly, the upper or outer half ball member I 2has a main generally hemispherical outer surface it and a chordalsurface compris- -,of the ball members and centrally po itioned,

, bers thus leaving continuous rin like flat surfaces 29, 2! around theperimeters of the half ball mem- H, 12, respectively, which surfaces asshown abut against the respective sides of the body panel C. Ihe size ofthe opening ID is preferably ofsuch. asize to ju'stg-pass' thecylindrical boss formed by the mating semicylindrical bosses l4, 18 ontheir respective ball-like members. If desired, a sealing washer 22 ofsoft rubber or like sealing material -:may ;be;,pesitioned between theringlike flat surface 2| on the half ball member 62 and the body panelC. As shown, the washer has an upwardly extending flange 23 on its outeredge'whicnfits into a corresponding groove in the perimeter of the halfball member l2.

Each ball member H, i2 is 'providedzwith aligned openings 25, 25,respectively, which openings as shown taper from a slot on the surfaceof the ball members to a generally central aligned opening on theinterior of the assembled cballor base B. .These openings,provideapas-,sage.for. clamping means to'fixedly position the Lhalf ball membersrelativeto the body panelfc aswell as toprovidea passage for'alead-inconnection fromthe antenna A.

"The antenna maytakeany one of .a numberof 'di'iferent'forms, andmaybeforme'd of metalor plastic. As shown, however, the'antenna-com- 7prises a. lowerrodlikennember 28 preferablyof tubular'constructionandan'upper-rodlike member 29' also preferably: of. tubular constructionof a" smaller diameter than and-- telescopically" arranged with thelower member. The lower end of the lower member 28 is provided withastud bolt 3i, which as shown extends generally 'through'the entirelength of the aligned'opem' ings in the half ball members. The stud boltmaybe'fixed to the antenna in any suitable man- =ner,'but intheembodiment shown 'the'upper end thereof extends into and fits snuglywith =the interior of'the lower end'ofthe lowertube '28. This'end hasone'or'a plurality of spaced circumferentially*extending grooves 32 inits surface'into which adjacent portions of the wall of the lower tube28 have been-spun or-presse'd 'as at l; thus providing a firm" andindestructible connectionbetween" the antenna A and thebbltv 3i."Intermediatethegrooves 32; the'bolt may be knurled as at "35 'on itsouter "surface; which Sknurls when the bolt is inserted-into theiniteriorof the lower member 23 upon assembly tend tobitethroughanyfi1m,rust, or scale on the'interior thereof and'provide anoiseless elec- "-itricalr connection betweenthe antenna and the bolt,as .w'ellfiaspreventing rotation'of. thexb'o'lt i-3l' relative tow-thelower member 28 when the:antenna: mounting is installed.

'As shown, the *bolt :"Bi extends "fdownwardly ":Tthroughthealigned.openingsin the half-i-ball The sleeve nut 38 is one of the means'forfclamping the half ball'members H, l2 in engagement vwith theisidesof'thebodypanelb as well-as clamping theantenna in a'de'sired angularposition, and" the clamping force thereof is "trans- 1'- mitted to the'spherical surface I 1' of the upper half' ball member" 1 2*througha'=circular-=washer fizhaving a concavelower surface" and a'thin edgesthereof. As shown, the washers 42, G3 are slipped over the boss 38 withthe upper surface rof lthewasher 2 in abutting engagement with the lowersurface of thefiange ifi. "It is preferred that as the sleeve nut 38 istightened down that *the concave washer 3 engage the surface ll of v theupper tball member l2 principally at its outer edges, and for thisreason the curvature thereof may be" slightly less than the curvature ofthe surface I! and, if desired, the edges there- -.of* m ay be:curvedinwardly at an even shorter radius of curvature as shown at 45.

:rEoriinsulatingthe antenna A from the body t'pan'el C,-either thesleeve nut 38 or the half ball member I201: both may be formed ofinsulating material, although in the embodiment shown the sleeve nut isrepresented as being formed of a metallic material while the upper halfmember vl2 is represented as being a non-metallicinsolating material.

"Thebolt 3l provides a lead-in conductor for the.- antenna, as we lasaclamping or tie'b'olt for'firmly securing thehalf ball members I I, T2in fixedassembled relationship to the body panel C. Itis preferredthatthe, lowerhalf ball member beof' an electrically conducting material,for reasons. whichwill appear hereinafter, and ac- :cordingly means areprovidedfor insulating the J. lower end-of the bolt'3 i; from theconducting'rhalf ball member l i. In the embodiment shown; a groundingsleeve 58 is: positioned concentrically around the lower end of the bolt3land insulated therefrom by an inner insulating sleeve 49 in turnsupported on the bolt 3| by an inner threadedmet'allic sleeve 59. Thesleeve 50 is threadably engaged on the' bolt 3! and has on its lower enda short outwardly extending flange 5l in abuttingengagement with thelower endof the "insulating sleevei9. "The groundingsleeveat-its upperend has a short inwardly extendingflange 53 abutting against theoppositeor' upper end of'the insulating sleeve 49 and at its lower endis externally threaded and extends below or "beyond thespherical surfacel3 of the lower 'half ball member I i. Preferably the external diam-"eter ofthe grounding sleevedB as well asthe diameter of the boss 39 ofthe sleeve nut-38 are "the same and approximately equal to -the widthof'the slots-in thehalf ball-memberssu'ch that the-antenna Awill betiltable with respect to the ball members in only a'sing1e=-plane,-which plane may be rotated through 360- by rotating thebase B-relative to the body panel 'C.

"While a nut' threaded-on the lower end of the grounding sleeve 38 andan eccentric concave washer similar to the concave eccentric washer 43may be provided for engaging the spherical surface l3 of the lower ballmember I l and hold- 'ing" the base B inassembled relationship,' it =is"preferredfor reasons of'simpli'city in structure and otherwise toutilize means on alead-in cable =connector assembly D for this purpose.The leadin cable connector. assembly D comprises a nut 55'shown'threadably engaged with the threads ofthe grounding sleeve w and acup shaped-or concave wa'sher' fifi, the inner surface of which bearsagain'st'the spherical surface is of thelower ball'member H. "The'upperend of "the nut 55 has a' thincylin'drical extension 59around which theopening ofthe washer 56 is'fitted, and the extension then flaredoutwardly to retain/the washer 56- andthenut 55 in: assembled relation----T'ship. As' shown, the portion" of the washer 56 cu'p shaped orconcave washer 43 having its 1 l I I defining the opening' is offset toreceive 'the 'flared -opemng' eccentrically:positioned relative" tQ EhQend of the extension 59 and prevent'interference frequency conductor 58.

with the spherical surface l3 of the lower ball member II. Aninternally-toothed lock washer Bl may be positioned intermediate theupper end of the nut 55 and the lower surface of the Washer oifset. Thelower end of the nut 55 has a radially inwardly extending flange 62defining an opening of reduced diameter through which a short groundingsleeve 63 extends having an outwardly flaring flange 64 at its upper endwhich abuts against the flange 62 of the nut for retaining same inassembled relationship. The grounding sleeve 83 receives a lead-in cable6? comprising an inner radio-frequency conductor 58, an insulatingsleeve 69, and a braided outer shield cov ering Hi. The shield Hi ispreferably soldered to the grounding tube 63 for providing a physicallystrong and low resistance electrical connection. The insulating sleeve69 preferably extends beyond the upper end of the grounding tube 63, anda female sleeve connector 12 of thin flexible material is positioned inthe end thereof and suitably connected as by soldering to the radio- Thefemale connector '12 is preferably slightly resilient and has aninternal diameter such as to receive and form an electrical connectionwith a dog 14 on the lower end of the bolt M. The grounding tube 63 asshown has been spun or necked inwardly as, at '53 to firmly position theinsulating sleeve 69 and the female sleeve connector 72 relativethereto. This construction is shown and described in the application forpatent of Milton R. Friedberg and Theodore R. Finke, entitled GroovedConnector, Serial No. 657,438, filed March 27, 1946.

As hereinbefore stated, the lower half ball member H is preferablyformed of an electrical conducting material for the purpose of providinga ground to the body panel C for the lead-in cable connector assembly D,the connection to the body panel C being formed from the braided shield16 through the shielding tube 63, the nut 55, the concave washer 55, andthe lower half ball member II. If desired, suitable means may beprovided on the fiat ringlike chordal surfaces 20 of the lower ballmember to insure that when the entire antenna assembly is tightened intofinal adjusted position, the means will bite through any rust, paint, orother films on the lower surface of the body panel C and provide a goodelectrical connection.

To install the preferred embodiment of the invention just described onthe body panel of an automotive vehicle, the hole H! of appropriate sizeis first drilled or otherwise perforated there through. The lowe andupper ball members I l, l2, respectively, are then positioned onopposite sides of the body panel with the bosses thereof extendingthrough the opening is into the mating recesses. The sleeve nut 38 isthreaded upwardly on the bolt 3| as far as possible, and th sleeve 59,the insulating sleeve 49, and the grounding sleeve 58 are then assembledon the bolt 3i as shown, and the entire assembly is inserted through thealigned openings in the half ball members, at this time it beingnecessary to manually or otherwise hold the ball members in position.The nut 55 of the lead-in cable connector assembly D is then threadedonto the lower end of the grounding sleeve 48 and threaded upwardly asfar as possible, bringing the lower end of the grounding sleeve 48 intoengagement with the flange fi l on the grounding tube 63 and forcing theflange 54 to firmly bear against the fiange E2 on the nut 55. With thelead-in cable connector assembly D in position, it is still possible totilt the antenna relative to the halfball mem bers or to rotate the ballmembers relative to the body panel C, which is then done so as to posi--tion the antenna A at the exact angular posi tion desired for the finalinstallation. The eccentric concave washer 43 is then turned to coverthe slot opening 26 in th upper half ball member I2. For retaining theantenna in the adjusted position, the sleeve nut 38 is rotated downwardly on the bolt 3|, thus drawing the concave washer 55 upwardly andforcing the concave washer downwardly into firm engagement with therespective spherical surfaces of the half ball members, firmly clampingthe half ball members into engagement with the body panel C and at thesame time fixing the angular position of the antenna relative to theball members and to the automotive vehicle or the like on which theantenna is being mounted. At the same time, the teeth of the lock washeriii are forced into firm biting engagement with the offset 58 of the concave washer 55 and into the upper end of the nut '55. It willbe seenthat the final tightening operation may be effected without access tothe lower side of the body panel C, thus facilitating and enabling theinstallation by one man. 1 Thus it will be seen that an embodiment ofthe invention has been described which accomplishes the objectshereinbefore enumerated and others wherein a minimum number ofsupporting members provide a dual function of electrical insulation aswell as adjustable physical support and which provides a mountingwherein the final adjustments may be effected from one side only.

Although in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes thisinvention is described as embodied in concrete form and the principlethereof has been described together with the best mode in which it isnow contemplated applying that principle, it will be understood that theapparatus shown and described is merely illustrative and that theinvention is not limited thereto, since alterations and modificationswill readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the true spirit of this invention 01' from the scope ofthe annexed claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. In an antenna andsupport therefor, an elongated antenna member, a base, a lead-in cableconnector, said base comprising half ball members adapted to bepositioned on opposite sides of the panel of an automotive vehicle toform a generally ball-shaped base, and having slots eccentricallypositioned in the surfaces of said half ball members and taperinginwardly to a central opening, said slots being generally aligned, saidantenna having means extending through said slots, a threaded nut on theantenna end of said means, a sleeve threaded on said means having ashort outwardly extending flange, an insulating sleeve on said firstmentioned sleeve and abutting against said flange, a grounding sleevesurrounding said insulating sleeve and having an inwardly extendingflang abutting against the opposite end of said insulating sleeve, theopposite end of said grounding sleeve being threaded, said lead-in cableconnector having threads for engagement with said threads on saidgrounding sleeve and a cup-shaped extension for engaging the oppositeside of said base from said nut.

2. In an antenna and support thereof, an elongated antenna member, abase, a lead-in sable connector, said base comprising half ball membersadapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the panel of an automotivevehicle to form a generally ball shaped base and having sletseooen-trically positioned .in the surface of said half ball members andtapering inwardly to a central opening, said slots being generallyaligned, said antenna having means extending throughs saidslots, athreaded nut on the-antenna end of said means, a sleeve threaded on saidmeans having a :short outwardly extending flange, an insulating sleeveon .said first mentioned sleeve and abutting against said flange, agrounding :sleeve surrounding said insulating sleeve and having inwardlyextending flanges abutting against the opposite end of said insulatingsleeve, the opposite end of said grounding sleeve being threaded, saidlead-in cable connector having threads in engagement with said threadson said grounding sleeve and a cupshaped extension for engaging theopposite side of :said base from said nut.

3. In an antenna and support thereof, an elongated antenna member, abase, a lead-in cable connector, said base comprising members adapted tobe'positione'd on opposite sides of the ,panel of an automotive vehicleand having openings itherethrough aligning with each other .and

8 with an opening in the panel, said antenna havingmeans extendingthrough said openings, a nut on the antenna end of said means andadapted to engage one of th base members, a sleeve threaded on saidmeans and having a short outwardly extending flange, an insulatingsleeve on said first mentioned sleeve and abutting REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,365,886 :Lehmann Dec. 26, 1944

